Display sign



Aprn 15, 1930. NQBQMO'BRIEN' 1,754,863

DISPLAY SIGN Filed NOV. 14, 1928 Patented pr. 15, 1.930

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN BERNARD MACKENZIE OBRIEN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, B'Y MESNE'ASSIGNMENTS, TOA'UTOLUX SIGN COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION F MASSACHUSETTS DISPLAY SIGN Application filed November 14, 1928, Serial No. 319,268, and in Great Britain November 25, 1927.

rFhis invention relates to display signs and has for its object to provide a sign particularly useful for `advertising purposes both indoors and out-of-doors which will be more brilliant and arresting than those at present in use.`

According to this invention the sign comprises a light-absorbing ground having refleeting portions in the form of one or more letters, numerals or devices constituting a legend (and hereinafter so called) and a. main reflector arranged at an angle thereto so that the legend is illuminated by the light directed upon it bythe main reflector.

In a simple arrangement those parts of a reflector or mirror which form the light-absorbing ground are covered with a suitable paint or with an interchangeable light-absorbing stencil, so that the uncovered parts are illuminated by the light directed upon them by the main reflector.

In the preferred form, instead of covering portions of a reflector or mirror with a stencil or some light-absorbing material, a legend comprising one or more letters, numerals or devices ofreflecting material is mounted in front of a separate background having a light absorbing surface.

Preferably the main reflector and the reflecting `legend are relatively adjustable so that the angle of the reflector and of the legend can be varied to suit the source of light and the position of the sign as a Whole. Thus, when the parts are properly adjusted, much of the light which strikes the main re- Hector is directed on to the legend and the background and because the background absorbs any of that light which passes through he spaces in the legend, the legend appears brilliantly illuminated and stands out clearly from its background.

The legend conveniently comprises a series of interchangeable words or letters, each formed from sheet metal or other suitable material having apolished or mirror-like face, and an adjustable holder is provided for such interchangeable letters or other units mounted between the background and the main reflector or connected to the background `so as to movetherewith.

When the background is formed in one with the holder for the reflecting legend the arrangement is preferably such that the legend occupies a different plane from the light-absorbing background since this enhances the brilliant effect of the sign.

A sign according to this invention can, if desired, be placed inside a hood or like casing without its efficiency being impaired since the light which falls upon the main reflector, whatever the source of this light, is reflected thereby on to the legend in addition to any light which may strike the reflecting legend direct. Hence the legend is more brilliantly illuminatec than is the case with signs in which the light can only pass through a stencil to a mirror in which an image of the sign is seen or in which the legend itself comprises a stencil through which light is reflected by a mirror.

The invention can be carried out in practice in many ways and several constructions are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of one simple form of sign, and

Figure 2 a vertical section;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a preferred form of sign having a separate background and an interchangeable reflecting legend;

Figure l is a cross-section through the construction illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic cross-section showing a sign according to this invention provided with a hood;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view partly in section of another construction of sign according to this invention, and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a modified form of sign.

The construction shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a frame or casing A with end plates A1 adapted to be suspended by eyes A2. Held in the lower part ofthe casing A is a main reflector B which may be of polished metal, glass or other suitable material of any desired colour', and preferably has a stippled or pebbled surface. In the upper part of the casing is a light-absorbing background C and a reflecting legend formed by way of example by the letters A B C.

In this example the legend and the baci'- ground are constituted by a strip C1 (Figure say of silvered glass or polished metal covered by a light-absorbing stencil in which the letters forming the Aegend are cut out to leave the reflecting surface visible.

Light falling on, the main reflector B wil be directed as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 on to the background and the legend. Rays such as at a in that ligure striking the background will be absorbed, but rays as at Z) striking the legend will be reectcd by it and consequently it will appear brilliantly illuminated.

It will be understood that the li gilt-absorbing background may be made by painting over the surface of the reflecting plate C1 and l then removing the paint to form the legend.

Or again, interchangeable stencilled plates may be arranged to fit over the plate C1.

The main reflector B and the reflecting plate C1 need not necessarily be members separate from the casing A but the approln'iate surfaces of that casing may be made reflecting to fulfil the saine functions.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a preferred construction of the improved sign intended to occupy say a standing position in a shop window. In this construction the main reflector Bl is mounted upon a horizontal rod B4 or on pivots between two end plates A3. A background formed of a wood or similar strip C covered with black velvet or other lightabsorbing material at C3 and held in a frame or holder C* (Figure 4) is also pivotally mounted in the end plates A3 by means of a rod having its ends screwed and provided with nuts D. Other rods E having screwed ends and furnished with nuts El connect the end plates. By slackening the nuts the angular positions of the background and main reflector can be adjusted and by tightening the nuts they can be secured in the adjusted positions.

In this construction the legend is shown as comprising a series of interchangeable letters D E F each formed of sheet metal having a polished face. These letters have feet or extensions as shown in Figure 3 so that they can be slipped into a slit or gap left between the bottom part of the background and the frame C* which holds it. As shown in Figure 4 the arrangement is such that when in position the legend occupies a plane at an angle to that of the background, there being an appreciable space between the upper edge of the letters constituting the legend and the background although the bases of the letters are gripped between the background and the metal frame at its lower edge.

When one of the end plates is removed the `main reflector can be withdrawn and replaced by another of some other colour or having different reflecting characteristics.

ln use a sign such as that illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is placed where light can fall upon the main reflector, and this reflector and the background carrying the legend is then adjusted until the light which falls upon the reflector is reflected by the legend as, for eX- aniple, is illustrated by the arrows c in Figure t. If, as is preferred, the legend is in the form of a mirror, the letters or like devices constituting it will appear to have the saine colour as the reflector if coloured glass is used for the latter.

Owing to the fact that the background is inclined rearwardly in relation to the reflecting legend and as it is formed of light-absorbing material, the legend appears to lie in a vertical plane even when it is fairly steeply inclined thereto, and as for the main part the legend is clear of the background it stands out in an arresting manner even when it is considerably inclined towards or away from the observer.

lt will be understood that although the letters constituting the legend are shown as slipping into the bottom part of the frame holding the background they may be held in position in any other suitable way, for instance in a separate holder, and when the sign is likely to be subjected to vibration, for instance when it is mounted on a van, the letters or devices constituting the legend may be bolted to their holder or support.

lVhen, as is preferred, the letters or like units constituting the legend are" furnished with a polished or similar mirror-like face it is convenient to provide the rear surface of each letter with a dull or black coating to prevent reversible letters being wrongly inserted.

The cross-sectional. view forming Figure 5 shows a si gn according to this invention with a main reflector B2, a legend F and a lightabsorbing background C5 mounted in a casing A4 which is provided with a hood A5 shown by way of example as being hinged at A. As the sign does not depend upon light falling directly ou the legend from above, the hood is useful Vas affording protection from the weather when the sign is used in exposed places.

Figure (S is merely intended `to show how a series of the improved signs can be placed one above the other in a. common casing A7 which may constitute, for instance. a display or notice board. The backgrounds. legends and main reflect-ors are indicated but are not lettered. It will be understood that they correspond to and function as the corresponding parts of Figures 3, 4,1and 5.

diere two signs according` to this invention are used in one structure it is sometimes convenient to provide a shutter which will make one or other of the two signs inoperative. A simple arrangement of this kind is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 7 where two signs are shown each having a main reflector B3, a le end F1 and alight-ah sorbing background c. A space or gap is left between the ,bottom of each background and thc cooperating` main reflector and in this gap a shutter G can move. The two shutters are connected by pins and slots to a lever H provided with a spring J, and by altering the position of this lever either one or the other of the main reflectors B3 can be covered by its shutter thus rendering that particular sign inoperative.

The signs according to this'invention may be adapted for use with moving legends if desired, arrangements being made whereby such legends, supported for instance on bands or flexible films, pass in front of the lightabsorbing background. Many forms of mechanism by which this can be accomplished `are known in themselves and the details do not form part of the present invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a display sign, the combination of an adjustable main reflector, a removable reflecting legend, a light-absorbing background, a holder for the legend integral with said background normally arranged atan angle to the main reflector, a frame in which both the background andthe main reflector are mounted and means on the frame for locking said members in their adjusted positions.

2. ln a display sign, the combination of a frame comprising end plates, a plurality of rods connect-ing said plates together, a main reflector and a light-absorbing background, each having their adjacent edges so mounted upon the rods as to be adjustable thereon, a reflecting legend, a holder for said legend adj ustably mounted between the background and the main reflector and clamping members on the ends of the rods adapted to lock the plates against therends of the background, holder and main reflector so as to maintain these members in their adjusted positions.

3. In a display sign, the combination of an adjustable main reflector, comprising a channelled backing and an interchangeable reflecting surface, a removable reflecting legend, a combined light-absorbing background and holder for said legend normally arranged at an angle to the main reflector, a frame in which both the main reflector and the combined background and holder are mounted and means on the frame for locking said members in their adjusted positions.

4c. In a display sign, the combination with a frame comprising end plates, a plurality of longitudinal rods connecting said plates to- `srether, a combined light-absorbing background and holder for a reflecting legend comprising a channelled backing and a strip of lightabsorbing material, a main ,reflector comprising achannelled backn and a removable reflecting surface the bac rings of the main reflector and background having their adjacent edges mounted upon adjacent rods, a legend comprising a series of interchangeable reflecting units each having a mirror-like face and clamping `means on the ends of the rods to lock the plates against the ends of the background and main reflector and so hold these members in their adjusted positions.

5. i ln a display sign, the combination with a reflecting legend and a main reflector for directing light against said legend, of means forsupporting1 said legend and reflector' in various angularly related positions, said means comprising a pair of end platesbetween which said legend and reflector are movably mounted, `and means `for moving said end plates toward each other to cause them to en gage and bind said legend and reflector for retaining the latter in adjusted position.

G. lln display sign, the combination with a reflecting legend and a main reflector for directin g light against said legend, of means for supporting said legend andrellector in va rious angularly related positions, said means comprising a pair of end plates between which said legend and reflector. are movably mounted, rods extending between and passing through said end plates, and means on said rods for engaging said end plates to clamp the latter against said reflector and legend for retaining them in adj usted position.

' 7. In a display sign. the combination with a reflecting legend and a main reflector for directing lightagainst said legend, of means for supporting said legend and reflector in various angularly related positions, said means comprising a pair offend plates between which said legend and `reflector are movably mounted, and means for clamping said end plates, legend and reflector together for retaining them in relatively fixed posi tion.

8. In a display sign, the combination of a light-absorbing background, a main reflector arranged at an angle thereto, a legend mounted in a plane at an angle both to the main reflector and to the background and between said background and reflector, said legend being formed of a substance which will reflect light directed upon it by the main reflector, and means for adjusting the angle between the legend and the main reflector.

9. ln a display sign, the vcombination of a light-absorbing background, a main reflector arranged at an angle thereto, a removable legend supported in a plane at an angle both to the main reflector and to the background and between said background and reflector, said legend being formed of a substance which will reflect light directed upon it by the main reflector, means for adjusting the angleV of the legend relatively to the main reflector, and for retaining the legend in such adjusted posi: tion.

10. In a display sign, the combination of a light-absorbing background, a main reflector arranged at an angle thereto, an interchangeable reflecting legend, and means for supporting said legend in one or more planes bctween and at an angle to the main reflector and background.

11. In a display sign, the combination of a light-absorbing background. a main reflector arranged for angular adjustment relatively thereto, a reflecting legend supported in a plane between and at an angle to said backound and main reflector, and means for lding the legend and the main reflector in their position of angular adjustment.

l2. In a display s1gn, the combination of a light-absorbing background, a main reflector arranged at an an le thereto, and a legend comprising a plura ity of interchangeable reflectl units supported between the backgroun and the main reflector in a plane at an angle both to that of the background and the main reflector so as to reflect light directed upon said units by the main reflector.

13. In a display sign, the combination of a light-absorbing background, a support for a main reflector arranged at an angle thereto, end plates engaging said support and background, a reflectmg legend adjustably mounted between said end plates in a plane at an an le both to the background and to the main re ector, said end plates cooperating with the background and the support for the main reector to retain the said members in their positon of angular adjustment.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

NOIIAN vBERNARD MACKENllE O'BRIEN- 

